Belated crooked tail

[SeventyGTX]

What could cause my 9 year old girl's tail to develop a kink? Is it normal to do this? It has taken about a year or so to get to where it is now. It had no hint of a kink prior to that. Just curious as it obviously cannot be fixed, and doesn't really bother me too much. See the two pics below.

 

[zandi202]

Usually kinks are from MBD or from an injury such as a decor being dropped on him by accident of being stepped on.

 

[bunnyrut]

it honestly looks like a door was shut on the tail.

does anyone else handle her?

 

[SeventyGTX]

She lives a pretty docile life, just my wife and I, and we are in our late 50's. Usually she is basking on her rock, or in her cooler area when she is not brumating. The only time anything possibly damaging to her happened, is a couple times while on my shoulder sitting at my computer.........she has fallen or jumped off the back onto the floor. When I turned around to get her, she seemed fine, just lying there looking at me.
Zandi, excuse my ignorance, but what is MBD?

 

[zandi202]

It's Metabolic Bone Disease. Pretty much if they don't have proper UVB they can have deformities much like arthritis in humans. At least that is what I have been told.

 

[Goonie]

[Moved from General to Health]

************************
Can she position her tail so it's not bent to her left, sort of straightened out? If so, then that 'kink' is a sure sign of MBD (that's the typical location on the tail of where it'd start).

In addition to receiving proper doses of UVB, she would also need calcium supplements.

 

[SeventyGTX]

Goonie, not exactly sure what you mean. But her tail can go to the right, but the kink is always there. I have to admit, the past three or four years I have not changed her bulb (MegaRay) as often as I used to.

 

[zandi202]

I think one of the problems is the type of UVB you use. ReptiSun 10.0 UVB is one of the most highy recommended and it has to be inside the tank to get macimum UVB so it is very possible that it is MBD

 

[bunnyrut]

Mega Ray is also a top of the line bulb. i had one, but they ended up being back ordered for too long and i had to switch to another bulb.

you have to make sure you are changing the bulbs every 6 months (i know mega rays are supposed to last longer, i just can't remember how long).

 

[zandi202]

That's cool. Never heard of Mega Rays before.

 

[SeventyGTX]

Mega Rays were the ones everyone here was saying to use when I first got her as a baby...............9 years ago.
I know she needs a new one. Can someone recommend a good vendor and type of bulb? I saw this one on ebay, but I have no idea if it is what she needs....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sfk23001-Sunglow-10-0-Uvb-Coil-Compact-Fluor-Bulb-23-Watt-/370727642381?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item565116e50d

 

[bunnyrut]

i personally use this http://www.arcadia-reptile.com/fluorescent-lamps/t5-d3plus-desert/

and i order from here http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/, the more you buy the cheaper they are. i get 2 at a time since i have 2 beardies. you can order it with the hood or buy the hood separate. (i got it with the hood)

the reptisun 10.0 is also really good. you can also pick up this one at a local pet store http://www.petmountain.com/product/...vb-bulb.html?gclid=CM-ntdSLzrYCFRCe4AodPy4AIA

any bulbs that are coiled cause eye problems for most reptiles.

if you pick up one of the UVB lights you will also need a separate heat light since they don't give off heat. a regular household bulb (60-100 watt) will do just fine. just make sure it is a clear bulb and not a frosted one. the ones they sell at the pet stores are overpriced and do the same thing.

i just checked the megaray website and they are still on back order!

 

[zandi202]

I would recommend a ReptiSun 10.0 UVB which you can get from Petmountain for cheap.

 

[SeventyGTX]

Thanks for all the info. Looks like I may have to go with the tube type fixture and a separate heat source. What I liked about the Mega Ray's, is one bulb did it all.

 

[Goonie]

Goonie, not exactly sure what you mean. But her tail can go to the right, but the kink is always there. I have to admit, the past three or four years I have not changed her bulb (MegaRay) as often as I used to.

I wanted to find out if her tail was permanently turned to the left, or it could freely move and straighten out for exception of the kink.

If need be, UV bulbs could be stretched up to 1 year, depending on the make, but no more than that.

In addition to changing the UV bulb, you should start giving her liquid calcium on a twice-daily basis for about a month, then 3 times a week after that (normal calcium intake amount).